DR Congo’s Bosco Ntaganda convicted of war crimes by ICC

A former Congolese rebel leader has been found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Fighters loyal to Bosco Ntaganda disembowelled babies and smashed their heads in, said judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In all, Ntaganda, nicknamed “Terminator”, was convicted on 18 counts, including murder, rape, sexual slavery and using child soldiers.
He becomes the first person convicted of sexual slavery by the ICC.
He is the fourth person convicted by the ICC since its creation in 2002.
The 46-year-old former rebel has been involved in numerous armed conflicts in both Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ntaganda surrendered at the US embassy in DR Congo in 2013.

Analysts said it was an act of self-preservation, motivated by the danger he was in after losing a power-struggle within his M23 rebel group.

Who is Bosco Ntaganda?

• Born in 1973, grew up in Rwanda
• Fled to DR Congo as a teenager after attacks on fellow ethnic Tutsis
• At 17, he began his fighting days – alternating between being a rebel and a soldier, in both Rwanda and DR Congo

• 2002-3: Militia leader in Congolese region of Ituri
• 2006: Indicted by the ICC for allegedly recruiting child soldiers in Ituri
• In charge of troops who carried out 2008 Kiwanji massacre of 150 people
• 2009: Integrated into Congolese national army and made a general
• 2012: Defects from the army, sparking a new rebellion which forces 800,000 from their homes
• 2013: Surrenders to US embassy in Kigali, after splits in his rebel group